The pencil reference every artist needs:
48 pencil sets, 379 pencils—from every major pencil company in the world.
Thousands of data points—for every pencil.
The world of graphite art will never be the same.
Some 1200 hours of work were devoted to the analysis, evaluation, and ranking of several million bits of data, consolidated and summarized in this volume in tabular form with accompanying commentary. There is no other reference of its kind in the world.
For the first time since pencils were invented, you have at your fingertips a single reference providing hard numerical data on softness, darkness, smoothness, pressure sensitivity, blackness range, softness to darkness ratio, smoothness to softness ratio, pencil set darkness consistency, pencil set softness consistency, breakability, physical qualities, and physical attributes. Perhaps you are satisfied with your pencils' performance. Perhaps you believe no data in this book, or in any reference for that matter, could persuade you to forsake writing instruments that have served you well for years or decades. Even so, the information in these pages will give you fresh insight into your drawing tools. You will find connections—ideas—you had never considered before. You will discover new ways to bring sparkle and life to the grayscale reality of the graphite pencil.
This book opens a new window on the bright, multi-dimensional world of 9H to 9B pencils. If you are dissatisfied with your current pencil set, you will find in these pages solid candidates that will outperform any pencils you have tried in the past. If you are content with your current drawing instruments, you will discover in this volume fascinating, strange, even unbelievable characteristics and connections you never imagined. Few, if any, will read this book and resist the growing urge to try a new, possibly extraordinary pencil possessing qualities brimming with promise and potential.